2014 Service to Mankind Award

Middleton Sertoma recognized one of our neighbors for his outstanding service volunteering in our community.  Dan Johnson has contributed much to the Middleton and surrounding community with his work as Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) garden manager and elsewhere in the community. 

Dan lead a group to start the garden. The garden is now in its fifth year where clients can grow their own food and give any excess to the MOM food pantry. Over these years the number of gardeners has grown. This year the number of gardeners is up to 26 plus there are 15 mentors available for them.

Dan and team have made a huge impact in the community through this innovative program.  By mixing community gardeners, who donate part of their produce to the food pantry, with MOM clients who can help feed their households, he has helped break down the barriers between those living in poverty and those who do not and give opportunity for people to provide for themselves by gardening.
 

Additionally Dan with a small group of friends "affectionately refer to themselves as the "geezer gleaners" rounded up nearly 34,000 pounds of food in 20012, the challenging, dry summer. In 2013 as part of the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens (link), they rescued and harvested over 100,000 pounds of food, with the food going to Second Harvest Food Bank, Community Action Coalition (CAC), MOM and the Goodman Center.
Dan is also part of the "Green Team" installing lawn and landscaping at the new homes for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. Dan also works with Friends of Dane County Ferals where he is a coordinator for Outdoor and Feral Cat Rescue.

Thank you, Dan, for sharing your zeal for gardening and inspiring others to get involved in their community!

Dan received the Service to Mankind award from Middleton Sertoma club, presented by Mark Oesterle, club president (on the left in the attached photo) at an awards dinner at Fitzgeralds recently.